Scottish Executive

Audiology

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tinnitus sufferers there currently are in (a) the Banff and Buchan parliamentary constituency and (b) Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on treatment of tinnitus sufferers in (a) 1998-1999, (b) 1999-2000 and (c) 2000-01, broken down by NHS board.

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any self-help groups for tinnitus sufferers in (a) the north east of Scotland and (b) the Highlands area and whether there are any plans to increase the number of such groups.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The information requested is not held centrally and should be requested directly from NHS boards.

  The review of audiology services commissioned last year, and due to report in the autumn, will collect data on the number of patients being referred for treatment for tinnitus and the services currently available. The review will make recommendations on how NHSScotland should address any shortfalls identified.

Central Heating

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems were installed under its central heating installation programme in (a) private sector, (b) local authority and (c) housing association properties in each local authority area in 2001-02.

Iain Gray: The information requested for the private sector part of the central heating programme is not held by local authority area, but 3,500 installations were delivered across Scotland in 2001-02. A report on the results of the programme across all sectors of the stock in 2001-02 will be published later this year. Tables A and B show the position for the local authorities and housing associations respectively.

  Table A: Local authorities

  


Local Authority


Number of Dwellings




Aberdeen


83




Angus


6




Argyll and Bute


28




Dundee


604




East Ayrshire


133




East Dunbarton


8




East Lothian


0




East Renfrewshire


61




Edinburgh


140




Falkirk


0




Fife


319




Glasgow


1,352




Highland


24




Inverclyde


84




Midlothian


21




Orkney


60




Renfrewshire


121




Shetland


28




South Lanarkshire


863




West Dunbarton


72




Total*


4,007




  Note:

  *Local authority stock in Aberdeenshire, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Perth and Kinross, Scottish Borders, South Ayrshire, Stirling, West Lothian and Western Isles all have central heating and so were not included in the programme.

  Table B: Housing associations

  


Local Authority Area


Number of Dwellings




Edinburgh


102




Dundee


109




Falkirk


61




Glasgow


281




Inverclyde


22




North Lanarkshire


12




Stirling


19




Total


606**




  Note:

  **This is an estimated figure. Communities Scotland are responsible for the housing association programme. They estimate that central heating will be installed in a total of 871 housing associations dwellings in 2001-02.

Central Heating

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) private sector, (b) local authority and (c) housing association properties in each local authority area will have a central heating system installed under its central heating installation programme in 2002-03.

Iain Gray: We cannot identify the number of private sector households that will benefit from the central heating programme by local authority area, but Eaga's budget will provide for 4,600 owner-occupiers and private sector tenants across Scotland in 2002-03 to receive central heating. Allocations for local authorities and housing associations have not yet been finalised for 2002-03, because most of them are still finishing the programme for 2001-02, and so it is not possible to provide the information requested at (b) and (c). The budget for this sector means that around 6,000 local authority tenants and 1,200 housing association tenants should benefit from the programme in 2002-03.

Central Heating

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many private sector properties in each local authority area are still to have a central heating system installed under its central heating installation programme.

Iain Gray: The information requested is not held by local authority area, but we estimate that across Scotland there are 40,000 over 60s in the private sector without central heating or with a system which is broken and beyond repair. Over 3,500 systems have been installed to date. The remainder will be installed between now and March 2006.

Council Tax

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many second homes are entitled to the 50% council tax discount and what percentage of the national housing stock this figure represents.

Peter Peacock: Second homes are not identified separately from other homes receiving a 50% discount. At 3 September 2001 there were 60,319 chargeable dwellings in Scotland subject to a 50% discount. This represents 2.7% of the total number of chargeable dwellings in Scotland.

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale has been set for the modernisation of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service announced on 4 March 2002 and what financial investment will be allocated to it.

Colin Boyd QC: The Report of the Review of the Planning, Allocation and Management of Resources in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service published on 4 March considered that it would take up to two years to implement fully its recommendations. I have moved quickly to appoint a Chief Executive to lead the introduction of the necessary changes and I look to him to do this with appropriate speed. Consultation on some of the report's recommendations, including in relation to future area and management structures will take several weeks and recruitment of significant numbers of additional qualified managerial and legal staff will take time. The current annual expenditure of the COPFS is some £64 million. The Executive have agreed that significant additional resources will be allocated to the department in 2002-03 and beyond.

Diligence

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation paper on the review of the law of diligence will be published.

Mr Jim Wallace: I am publishing today a consultation paper which contains proposals for wide ranging reforms to the diligence system. The consultation period will run until 16 July 2002.

  The paper is available on the Scottish Executive website at:

  www.scotland.gsi.gov.uk/consultations/justice/CivOb-00.asp.

Education

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the information gathered through the Scottish Exchange for Education Data will be used solely for statistical purposes or whether information identifiable to individuals will be held and, if the latter, what mechanisms will be put in place in order to ensure individual confidentiality; how it will ensure that any such mechanisms are transparent and that the use of such information is open to challenge by the individuals to whom it relates, and how such individuals will be able to make themselves aware that their individual record had been consulted.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive will use data collected through the Scottish Exchange of Educational Data (ScotXed) project for statistical and research purposes, to inform the development, implementation and monitoring of policy. The Scottish Executive will not use any personal information collected through ScotXed to support decisions or actions in relation to specific individuals.

  The Scottish Executive will fully comply with the Data Protection Act in the collection, processing and storing of information relating to individuals. The Scottish Executive will also comply with the National Statistics Code of Practice, in the use of ScotXed information, to safeguard confidentiality of individuals. The Scottish Executive will not publish information on individuals, nor shall we make any use of names or other personal details beyond technical and administrative checks to ensure the completeness and accuracy of data.

  ScotXed is a partnership of the Scottish Executive Education Department with local authorities, schools, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, HM Inspectorate of Education and Learning and Teaching Scotland to promote the electronic exchange of educational information to common standards. The project will provide better quality information and link-ups between education partners in Scotland, and will encourage the good use of management information by schools and education authorities.

  Other organisations within the ScotXed partnership, will make use of the information gathered through ScotXed for administrative and management purposes and to improve the education of pupils.

  The multiple use of the same information, much of which already exists on school systems, by different ScoXed partners, will reduce bureaucratic burdens on schools to meet multiple demands for information.

  All ScotXed partners are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act when dealing with information relating to individuals.

Elections

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23279 by Peter Peacock on 26 March 2002, what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government about the timing of any legislation which will be introduced in order to allow for pilot election schemes for Scottish general elections to take place alongside the proposed pilot election schemes for local government elections and, in particular, about whether such legislation will allow this to happen in 2003.

Peter Peacock: As I indicated in the answer given to question S1W-23279 on 26 March 2002, the Secretary of State has advised us that it appears sensible to legislate to extend pilots to the Scottish Parliament elections when an opportunity arises.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to provide on-going training and updates with regard to the prescription of methadone as referred to in the National Confidential Inquiry into Methadone Related Deaths (Scotland) 2000 .

Dr Richard Simpson: Training and updates for general practitioners are devised within NHS board areas across Scotland. The prescribing of methadone is a core feature of these local courses and, in some areas, is related to prescribing audits in order to improve clinical practices. The Scottish Executive will monitor the situation.

  The Scottish Executive is currently looking at local practice with a view to identifying the most effective approaches.

Hospitals

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the most recent visit to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by the Minister for Health and Community Care and any related meetings and whether it will detail any action planned as a result of such a visit and meetings.

Malcolm Chisholm: I visited Aberdeen on 22 March 2002 at the invitation of the NHS board and in order to learn more about the services being provided at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. I also listened to the board's views on current service and patient/public involvement issues and met members of the NHS Grampian Community Forum. I expect to make similar visits to other NHS board areas in due course.

Hospitals

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations were cancelled as a result of a lack of beds at each in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area in each quarter of each of the last three years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the number of operations cancelled by NHSScotland is not available. Data is collected on the number of planned admissions to hospital for in-patient/day case treatment which are cancelled. Information is published in Scottish Health Statistics, which is available on the Scottish Health on the Web (SHOW) website at:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/Scottish_Health_Statistics/SHS2000/M1.pdf.

  The number of cancellations of planned admissions to hospital for in-patient/day case treatment is one of the measures in the NHS Performance Assessment Framework (PAF). Rates of cancellations which are significantly above Scottish norms or which show a sharply rising trend will be reviewed at the annual accountability review meetings between the Health Department and NHS boards.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current rate of interest charged by the Public Works Loan Board for local authority housing loans is.

Peter Peacock: Money lent by the board is intended to assist local authorities to meet long-term borrowing requirements. No distinction is made between borrowing for housing or any other legitimate purpose.

  The interest rates at which the Public Works Loan Board makes loans to local authorities vary according to the authority's loan quota entitlement, the type of loan requested (fixed or variable rate) and the method of repayment. The rates of interest will be agreed between the board and the local authority at the time of application. The schedule of current interest rates can be viewed on the board's website:

  www.pwlb.gov.uk.

Justice

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the five main causes of death were for (a) males and (b) females aged 35 years and under in each year from 1991 to 2001.

Dr Richard Simpson: All deaths in Scotland are coded according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) which is promulgated by the World Health Organisation. As with all classifications, the ICD tends to group minor categories and split up larger categories. Any choice of a "top five" causes of death is therefore somewhat subjective. The following table gives information on causes, or groups of causes, that are considered to be appropriate to the age group of interest. As can be seen, the top five has varied over the period in question.

  Deaths Aged Under 35, Selected Causes, by Sex, Scotland

  


Cause of death


1991


1992


1993


1994


1995


1996


1997


1998


1999


2000




Males

 



Suicide (incl. "undetermined")


213


251


291


255


250


256


282


268


285


279




Drug dependence


22


14


26


94


111


125


102


125


147


143




Road transport accidents


192


179


144


143


162


148


156


135


124


110




Perinatal conditions


136


136


101


106


91


103


82


98


83


96




Congenital anomalies


99


101


104


74


80


76


66


71


59


60




Homicide


35


69


39


54


48


51


35


42


49


36




Sudden infant death syndrome


62


45


37


31


25


30


34


19


23


20




All causes


1,236


1,252


1,188


1,212


1,204


1,223


1,110


1,151


1,146


1,083




Females

 



Perinatal conditions


77


80


73


85


87


76


58


67


53


74




Suicide (incl. "undetermined")


57


73


79


64


60


75


75


72


70


69




Congenital anomalies


72


86


83


68


64


63


59


60


44


43




Drug dependence


6


4


8


31


28


30


20


27


31


40




Road transport accidents


72


66


35


40


58


40


41


44


40


33




Sudden infant death syndrome


28


19


21


17


23


13


18


18


18


13




Homicide


10


11


10


9


11


22


7


9


10


9




Breast cancer


19


21


16


16


15


14


13


10


8


8




All causes


637


621


651


565


597


569


515


531


502


507




  Notes

  1. The method of collecting information on drug-related deaths was changed in 1994. This change significantly affected the number of deaths classified as "drug dependence".

  2. The number of homicides was increased significantly in 1996 by the Dunblane incident.

Local Government

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the basic councillor's attendance allowance was in each local authority in each of the past three financial years.

Peter Peacock: The maximum rate of attendance allowance for councillors is set by Scottish ministers and the current rate from 15 February this year is £30.42 per day. The previous rate, applicable from January 1999, was £28.53 per day. There is no obligation on councils to pay this allowance and the decision to do so is a matter for individual councils. No information on payment is held centrally.

Local Government Finance

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it issues to local authorities with regard to placing of local authority monies on the money markets.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive currently issues no guidelines to local authorities on this issue. Local authorities are constrained by the Trustees Investment Act 1961 and are expected to have regard to the CIPFA Code of Treasury Management.

  The Scottish Executive intends to use the forthcoming Scottish Local Government Bill to introduce a regulatory framework, which will enable local authorities to make a wider range of investments without increasing their risk exposure.

Medical Research

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which medical conditions are covered by the psychiatric research studies into "medically unexplained symptoms" which together received £537,000 from the Chief Scientist Office since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The medical conditions covered by the projects include: motor symptoms (including significant motor weakness affecting at least one leg), neurological symptoms and patients without conventionally defined organic disease who are frequently referred from primary care to a range of medical specialities including general surgery, orthopaedics, ear, nose and throat, urology, general medicine, cardiology, neurology and neurosurgery, gastroenterology, rheumatology, respiratory, gynaecology and infectious diseases.

Medical Research

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what diagnostic tests and markers are being used to screen possible participants in the epidemiological study into unexplained motor symptoms which has received £135,000 from the Chief Scientist Office.

Malcolm Chisholm: The inclusion criteria used to screen possible participants for the epidemiological study of unexplained motor symptoms are:

  the patient complains of symptoms or deficits affecting voluntary muscles, or deficits of sensory function that suggest a neurological or medical condition;

  symptoms are not explained by an organic aetiology;

  symptoms result in significant functional impairment, and

  symptoms are not limited to pain or sexual dysfunction and are not explained by another mental disorder.

Mental Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on secondary mental health services was in real terms in each of the last five years for which figures are available and what this represents as a percentage of the hospital and community health services budget in each of these years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows expenditure in real terms on hospital and community services for mental health between 1996-97 and 2000-01. The expenditure figures include resource transfer from health boards to local authorities.

  Expenditure on Mental Health Services in Scotland

  


Year


Expenditure (2000-01 Prices)
(£ million)


Expenditure as a Percentage of Total Expenditure 
  on Hospital and Community Health Services
(%)




1996-97


452.0


14.73




1997-98


456.5


14.65




1998-99


455.1


14.40




1999-2000


485.2


14.82




2000-01


520.9


14.94




  Source: Performance Template Returns.

  Note:

  Expenditure figures have been converted to 2000-01 prices using the GDP deflator.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23427 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 March 2002, what the details are of its plans to commission an anti-stigma campaign as part of the National Programme for the Improvement of Mental Health.

Malcolm Chisholm: We have commissioned People Too to carry out a concerted, national anti-stigma initiative in Scotland. People Too is an alliance of the Highland Users Group, the National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland), Penumbra, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Scottish Association for Mental Health. Details of the initiative will be announced by People Too in due course.

Population

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) birth, (b) mortality and (c) life expectancy rates were for (i) males and (ii) females in each year from 1995-96 to 2000-01 inclusive broken down by NHS board area.

Dr Richard Simpson: The latest available information is provided in the following tables:

  Birth Rates1 by Health Board Area, 1995-2001

  

 

Rates per 1,000 population



 

1995


1996


1997


1998


1999


2000


2001 2




Scotland


11.7


11.6


11.6


11.2


10.8


10.4


10.3




Argyll and Clyde


11.8


11.6


11.7


10.9


10.7


10.4


9.8




Ayrshire and Arran


11.1


11.0


11.1


10.8


10.0


9.8


9.8




Borders


11.0


10.7


10.7


9.8


9.9


10.0


10.0




Dumfries and Galloway


11.1


10.9


10.6


10.3


9.6


9.4


8.8




Fife


11.5


11.0


11.0


11.0


10.5


10.0


10.4




Forth Valley


11.6


11.6


11.5


11.5


10.9


10.5


10.1




Grampian


11.5


11.4


11.4


11.4


11.0


10.2


10.0




Greater Glasgow


12.2


12.1


12.1


11.3


10.9


10.5


10.7




Highland


11.6


11.4


11.7


11.8


10.7


10.3


10.2




Lanarkshire


12.0


12.2


12.1


11.8


11.5


11.1


10.7




Lothian


12.0


11.8


11.9


11.4


11.2


10.8


10.6




Orkney


11.6


10.8


11.3


9.9


9.6


7.8


8.9




Shetland


12.6


11.7


12.4


11.6


12.5


10.1


11.0




Tayside


11.1


11.0


11.2


10.8


10.2


10.0


10.1




Western Isles


10.4


9.7


8.9


9.8


9.6


8.4


8.3




  Notes:

  1. Rate per 1,000 population (2001 rates are based on 2000 mid-year population estimates).

  2. Provisional.

  Death Rates by Sex and Health Board Area, Scotland 1995-2001

  


Rates per 1,000 population



 

1995


1996


1997


1998


1999


2000


2001 2



 

M


F


M


F


M


F


M


F


M


F


M


F


M


F




Scotland


11.6


12.0


11.8


11.9


11.4


11.8


11.3


11.8


11.5


12.0


11.1


11.5


11.0


11.4




Argyll and Clyde


11.9


12.5


12.7


12.6


12.4


12.2


12.2


12.7


12.7


12.6


11.9


12.7


11.9


12.1




Ayrshire and Arran


12.0


12.6


11.8


12.2


12.6


12.8


11.8


12.4


11.8


13.3


11.7


12.7


12.0


12.7




Borders


12.6


13.6


12.1


13.5


12.3


13.4


11.7


13.3


11.6


13.2


12.0


12.4


11.5


12.5




Dumfries and Galloway


12.6


11.3


12.5


13.0


12.3


12.5


12.2


12.5


12.4


12.7


12.1


12.2


12.1


12.2




Fife


11.1


11.5


11.4


11.5


10.9


11.4


11.1


11.8


10.9


11.6


10.7


11.1


10.7


11.6




Forth Valley


10.7


11.5


11.8


11.5


11.0


11.1


10.8


11.2


11.1


11.4


10.7


11.3


10.4


11.4




Grampian


10.2


10.5


10.0


9.8


9.4


10.1


9.6


10.3


9.8


10.8


9.7


10.6


9.8


10.0




Greater Glasgow


13.2


13.1


13.1


12.9


12.4


12.9


12.7


12.3


12.7


13.0


12.0


11.9


11.7


11.8




Highland


11.2


12.1


11.7


11.2


11.4


11.5


11.5


11.6


12.0


11.3


11.7


11.4


11.4


11.7




Lanarkshire


10.8


11.1


10.8


11.0


10.8


11.0


10.5


10.8


11.0


11.1


10.6


10.4


10.2


10.6




Lothian


10.5


11.4


11.0


11.5


10.4


11.3


10.3


11.1


10.4


11.3


9.9


10.8


10.0


10.4




Orkney


12.8


11.0


12.0


11.0


12.3


11.8


13.0


12.1


12.4


9.2


10.8


9.3


11.8


11.7




Shetland


10.3


9.8


10.8


11.0


10.7


10.6


10.5


10.7


10.2


9.2


7.6


8.2


9.4


10.6




Tayside


12.3


13.1


12.6


13.3


12.1


12.7


12.0


13.2


12.5


13.4


11.9


12.5


11.9


12.7




Western Isles


15.0


14.5


15.4


14.5


14.9


14.6


14.7


13.5


15.8


13.6


15.0


15.2


13.4


12.8




  Notes:

  1. Rate per 1,000 population (2001 rates are based on 2000 mid-year population estimates).

  2. Provisional.

  Expectation of Life at Birth, by Health Board Area, Scotland 1995 to 1999

  

 

1995 1


1996 1


1997 1


1998 1


1999 1



 

M


F


M


F


M


F


M


F


M


F




Scotland


72.09


77.66


72.24


77.76


72.41


77.92


72.61


78.00


72.85


78.17




Argyll and Clyde


71.05


77.19


71.23


77.32


71.10


77.34


71.11


77.74


71.38


77.45




Ayrshire and Arran


72.53


77.80


72.57


77.74


72.80


78.05


73.00


77.75


73.29


77.76




Borders


75.00


79.40


74.69


79.61


74.93


79.67


75.07


79.75


75.34


80.02




Dumfries and Galloway


73.66


78.75


73.93


79.05


74.16


78.97


74.52


79.06


75.16


79.19




Fife


73.14


78.50


73.39


78.79


73.39


78.73


73.82


79.01


74.11


79.13




Forth Valley


72.79


77.57


73.08


78.04


73.06


78.32


73.39


78.67


73.59


78.62




Grampian


73.67


79.06


73.88


79.40


74.19


79.65


74.33


79.42


74.41


79.44




Greater Glasgow


69.75


76.13


69.93


76.15


70.16


76.36


70.37


76.47


70.49


76.77




Highland


72.51


78.66


72.62


78.63


72.75


78.93


72.89


79.03


72.78


79.26




Lanarkshire


71.71


76.80


71.75


76.77


71.94


77.03


72.09


77.29


72.29


77.58




Lothian


72.80


78.11


72.92


78.16


73.02


78.19


73.39


78.41


73.61


78.49




Orkney


73.85


80.52


74.14


79.59


74.12


79.32


73.38


79.76


74.36


81.89




Shetland


71.90


79.04


72.11


80.59


72.59


79.97


73.60


80.64


74.33


80.98




Tayside


72.62


78.13


72.98


78.34


73.37


78.28


73.54


78.38


73.68


78.76




Western Isles


71.51


79.14


70.74


78.99


70.90


79.65


71.24


79.94


72.17


79.97




  Note:

  1. Expectation of life is based on mortality rates for three years. The year shown is the central year of the three-year period.

Post Office

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet with representatives of Consignia plc to discuss how their restructuring proposals will affect Scotland.

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet with trade union representatives to discuss any concerns over the recently announced restructuring proposal by Consignia plc.

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to minimise the impact of the recently announced restructuring plans by Consignia plc on jobs and services in Scotland.

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to ensure effective liaison between it, the Scotland Office and Her Majesty's Government to minimise the impact of the recently announced restructuring proposals by Consignia plc on jobs and services in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: Consignia, post offices and postal services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government, including the Scotland Office, on a wide range of issues, including restructuring proposals by Consignia.

  I am due to meet members of the Consignia Advisory Board for Scotland on 2 May. No approach for a meeting has been received from trade union representatives.

  Current permanent employees are expected to be given a choice of remaining in Consignia in another role or taking a voluntary redundancy package. Support will be provided to any Consignia employees becoming redundant through dedicated local response teams already in place under the Executive's PACE framework. This will ensure a rapid response in terms of retraining/upskilling and advice on employment opportunities. These workers will have early access to Training for Work and Jobcentre Plus programmes.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-23283 by Mr Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002 regarding security in the woodwork shed at HM Prison Kilmarnock, whether the Executive endorses the position of Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) that the "SPS is satisfied with the performance of the establishment" in view of the report in the Scottish Daily Mail on 11 March 2002 regarding a claw-hammer attack on an inmate in the shed.

Mr Jim Wallace: Contractual matters are the responsibility of and are monitored carefully by Scottish Prison Service, who continue to regard the performance of the establishment as satisfactory, notwithstanding occasional incidents with which all prisons have to deal with.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what total fees (a) have been paid and (b) are now due for work by external consultants employed on the Scottish Prison Service's Estates Review.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  (a) £107,584 excluding VAT and (b) none.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all costs it incurs associated with HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  In addition to the obligations of the respective parties to the contract, details of which were published on the SPS website on 8 March 2002, SPS also incur costs associated with HMP Kilmarnock in relation to the Assisted Prison Visit Scheme (for prisoners' families); addiction transitional care service (in respect of prisoners released from Kilmarnock); prisoners' discharge grants, and the cost of the controller function.

Prison Service

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the suicide rate was among (a) men and (b) women prisoners in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Rates of Suicide for Males and Females, Financial Years 1997-2001, Per Thousand Prisoners

  

 

1996-97


1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000


2000-01




(a) Males


2.41


2.03


2.23


2.95


1.94




(b) Females


16.3


5.40


4.72


0


0

Rail Network

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the installation of the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) at signals on the rail network is near completion.

Lewis Macdonald: This is an operational matter for Railtrack. I understand that the installation of TPWS in Scotland is scheduled for completion in early 2003.

Road Signs

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any communication from North Ayrshire Council about signage on the A78 trunk road at the boundary of the area currently identified on signs as Seamill.

Lewis Macdonald: Yes.

Road Signs

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange for the trunk road maintenance contractor to carry out the alterations to the signage on the A78 trunk road at West Kilbride and Seamill, as detailed in the North Ayrshire Council drawings submitted to the Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning by Councillor Elizabeth McLardy on 12 March 2002.

Lewis Macdonald: No. Any alterations to the boundary signing on the A78 trunk road will only be considered on the basis of proposals which have been put forward and endorsed by North Ayrshire Council.

  The new signs as proposed by Councillor McLardy are not in accordance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994.

Roads

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22829 by Lewis Macdonald on 6 March 2002, whether it will place the records by Amey Highways Ltd concerning snow clearance on the A1 on 30 December 2001 and any related information from the Performance Audit Group in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Lewis Macdonald: I have undertaken to publish a report by the Performance Audit Group on the first year of operation of the new trunk road contracts in line with the recommendation of the Auditor General. A copy of the report will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Roads

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why local authorities and highway agencies are exempt from the proposals set out in Reducing Disruption from Utilities' Road Works - A Consultation Paper .

Lewis Macdonald: The aim of this consultation paper was to evaluate the extent to which utility companies' roadworks caused disruption to road users and what steps could be taken to alleviate any problems identified using the powers contained in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The relevant provisions of this act extend to utility companies only.

Roads

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15784 by Sarah Boyack on 11 June 2001 in regard to the clearing of litter from motorways by on-going trunk road operating companies in the final months of the old contracts, what action has been carried out to investigate the concerns on this matter mentioned in that answer.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive instructed the Performance Audit Group to investigate concerns expressed by the new operating companies and also review the records of actions taken by the previous trunk road operators in regard to the clearing of litter from motorways.

Rural Development

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any incentives are being introduced in order to encourage the establishment of more retail outlets in rural areas.

Ross Finnie: The Executive is committed to working to improve the quality of life in rural Scotland by promoting the provision of rural services. The Scottish National Rural Partnership's report Services in Rural Scotland (January 2001), which was commissioned by ministers, identifies innovative approaches to providing service in rural areas and offers recommendations on how public, private and voluntary service providers might work with rural communities to help them achieve their service needs. We are already following up on a number of the recommendations, including the setting up of a rural community website, and, with the Enterprise Networks and other partners, exploring the feasibility of establishing pilot Community Malls.

  With regard to specific incentives, a scheme of rural rate relief is in operation and is to be extended to provide 50% mandatory rate relief to small food shops which satisfy the scheme criteria. Businesses that do not meet that criteria may be eligible for relief under the small business rate relief scheme commencing in April 2003.

  Advice on business start-up (including the retail sector) is also available via the Small Business Gateway. It offers all the advice, information and training small businesses will need to set up and is tailored to meet individual requirements.

Schools

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed sale of 4.25 acres of land at Broomlands Primary School complies with policy C5 of the finalised Structure Plan submitted by Scottish Borders Council in May 2001.

Ms Margaret Curran: Policy C5 of the submitted finalised Scottish Borders Structure Plan deals with the protection of playing fields and sports pitches. However, as the finalised plan is still under consideration by the Scottish ministers, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage. An announcement on the plan will be made soon.

Smoking

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of young people aged 18 and under smoked in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Malcolm Chisholm: Trend data are not available for smoking among young people aged 18 and under. The nearest available information are from a survey carried out by National Centre for Social Research and the National Foundation for Education Research. These data show the percentage of smokers aged between 12 and 15 years old.

  These data show that the percentage of smokers has decreased between 1996 and 1998 and again between 1998 and 2000. The largest decrease has taken place among boys.

  Percentage of pupils aged between 12 and 15 who were regular smokers:

  


Gender


Year




1996


1998


2000




Boys


14


11


8




Girls


14


13


13




Total


14


12


10

Student Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests for assistance it has received in each of the past five years from (a) students and (b) welfare or student support services, broken down by year and category of request.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Executive provides assistance to students and student welfare services both in terms of financial support, guidance and advice. This assistance is provided through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Councils and individual institutions themselves. Details of individual requests for information are not collected centrally.

Warm Deal

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the maximum grant of £500 available under the Warm Deal is not index linked against inflation and whether it has any plans for it to be so linked.

Iain Gray: The grant maximum for the Warm Deal is kept under review but we believe the current maximum of £500 is adequate. The average grant awarded in 2001-02 was around £320.

Warm Deal

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the Warm Deal to allow cross subsidy within a given tenement and multi-storey block of flats in situations where the average grant per flat does not exceed the maximum amount of grant available.

Iain Gray: As with other grant schemes, the Warm Deal is kept under review. However, there are no plans to change the scheme in the way suggested in the question.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer whether computer-simulated tests on the effect of wind around the new Parliament building can determine (a) whether it will result in any whistling and (b) what wind speeds will be generated and whether there are any plans to use wind tunnel testing in order to detect any potential problems.

Sir David Steel: The computer simulated wind tests on the final design of the Holyrood building were undertaken to determine the effect of windflow around the buildings. Even such sophisticated tests cannot determine whether or not whistling will occur. The elimination of whistling is essentially a matter related to the fit of the cladding components of the building and the design team have assured us that they have designed the cladding system with this in mind. Actual wind speeds will be dependent on ambient winds and their direction which are constantly varying factors, however, results from the simulation indicate that testing at a wind velocity of 60 mph, the building forms typically reduce wind speed. I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that since the computer simulation gave no cause for concern that the design of the building might accelerate wind speed, the architects currently have no plans to undertake any further form of wind testing.